Afghans Accuse NATO Of Killing Children In Air Strike

Local Afghan officials say a NATO air strike has killed 10 civilians, including five children, in eastern Afghanistan.

Kunar Province Governor Fazlullah Wahidi said NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) carried out the February 13 attack without informing local authorities.

He said at least four Taliban fighters were also killed in the strike, which occurred in the village of Chawgam.

ISAF spokesman Major Adam Wojack said he was aware of an incident that "matched" the report from Kunar but said he could not confirm the number of deaths or the civilian casualties.

"We take all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and we are currently assessing the incident," Wojack said.

Civilian casualties caused by NATO forces are a highly sensitive issue and are regularly condemned by President Hamid Karzai.

The Afghan government on February 13 welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement that the United States would withdraw more than half of its troops from Afghanistan over the next year in anticipation of the international coalition concluding its combat mission by the end of 2014.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP